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Fix Indexed Though Blocked by Robots.txt

2024 » Fix Indexed Though Blocked by Robots.txt

Know the Right Way to Fix "Indexed Though Blocked by Robots.txt" Google Search Console Error.

The "Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt" error in Google Search Console can be perplexing. It indicates that a web page has been indexed by Google, but its content is restricted from being crawled due to instructions in the website's robots.txt file.

Here, we'll explain why this error occurs, how to fix it, and provide additional tips and FAQs to help you manage your site's indexing effectively.

How to Fix Indexed Though Blocked by Robots.txt Issue?

Fix Indexed Though Blocked by Robots.txt

To fix the "Indexed Though Blocked by robots.txt" error, follow these steps:

Identify the Issue


  1. Sign in to Google Search Console.
  2. Navigate to the "Pages" report under the "Indexing" section.
  3. Look for "Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt" warnings under the "Why pages aren’t indexed" tab.

Check Your Site robots.txt File

  1. Use Google's robots.txt Tester to check your file for syntax errors and to see which URLs are being blocked.

Resolve the Issue

  1. If you want the page to be indexed and crawled, remove the `Disallow` directive from the robots.txt file that blocks the URL.
  2. If you don't want the page indexed, add a `noindex` meta tag to the page's HTML. This will ensure the page is not indexed even if it can be crawled.
  3. Alternatively, update your robots.txt file to explicitly disallow the URLs you don't want crawled.

Additional Tips

  • Regularly review your robots.txt file to ensure you are not inadvertently blocking important pages.
  • Monitor your site's index status in Google Search Console to catch and resolve indexing issues promptly.

Why Does This Error Occur?

The "Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt" error happens for a few reasons:

  1. Pre-existing Indexing: The page was indexed by Google before the robots.txt file was updated to block it. If Google had already crawled and indexed the page before you added the disallow directive, it will remain in the index.
  2. External Links: Even if a page is disallowed in robots.txt, if other sites link to it, Google can still index it, although it won't be able to crawl the content.
  3. Contradictory Instructions: There might be conflicting directives in the robots.txt file, such as a general block for all user agents followed by a specific allowance for certain agents.

This error signals a mismatch between what Google has indexed and the current instructions in your robots.txt file.

Why Blocking Unimportant Pages through robots.txt is Important?

Why Blocking Unimportant Pages through robots.txt is Important?

Blocking unimportant pages through robots.txt is crucial for managing your crawl budget efficiently. Search engines allocate a specific "crawl budget" to each site, determining how many pages they will visit during each crawl session. By blocking less critical sections of your site, you ensure that search engines focus their resources on the most important pages, which can improve your site's SEO.

This is particularly beneficial for:

  • Large websites with many pages.
  • Sites undergoing SEO cleanup.
  • Ensuring that query parameters, tags, comments, and other non-essential content do not dilute the value of your important pages.

How to Generate a Perfect SEO-Friendly Robots.txt?

Creating an optimized robots.txt file involves several steps:

  1. Visit our robots.txt Generator tool.
  2. Tailor the robots.txt file according to your website's needs.
  3. Include directives that allow search engines to crawl and index your site effectively.
  4. Exclude sensitive or unnecessary pages from being indexed.
  5. Copy the generated robots.txt file.
  6. Upload/Paste it to the root directory of your website.
  7. By following these steps, you can create an SEO-friendly robots.txt file that helps improve your website's visibility and ensures efficient use of your crawl budget.

FAQs

Q: What is a robots.txt file?

A: A robots.txt file is a text file that webmasters create to instruct search engine robots how to crawl and index pages on their website.

Q: How often should I review my robots.txt file?

A: Regularly, especially after making significant changes to your site structure or content. A periodic review helps ensure you are not blocking important pages inadvertently.

Q: Can Google index a page that is blocked by robots.txt?

A: Yes, Google can index a page if it is linked from other sites, even if it is blocked from being crawled by robots.txt. However, the content of the page won't be crawled.

Q: What is a crawl budget?

A: Crawl budget is the number of pages a search engine will crawl on your site within a given time frame. Optimizing crawl budget ensures that important pages are crawled and indexed efficiently.

Q: What is the difference between `noindex` and disallow in robots.txt?

A: `noindex` is a meta tag that tells search engines not to index a specific page, while `Disallow` in robots.txt prevents search engines from crawling the page.

By understanding and addressing the "Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt" error, you can ensure that your site is indexed correctly and efficiently by search engines, improving your overall SEO performance.